THE PLANS – Freshman Mahak Jain won the decisive game for 12th place in Georgia Tech women’s tennis on Saturday afternoon, when the Yellow Jackets opened the ITA Kickoff Weekend with a 4-3 victory over No. 14 in South Carolina. All eyes turned to the court of six, where the freshman fought for a three-set victory, pushing Tech to 2-0 this season.
DOUBLE ACTION – Victories on courts one and two put the Yellow Jackets 1-0 after the doubles game. Gia Cohen and Carol Lee gave Tech the double advantage, finishing first in court two. The pair won an early break to take the lead 2-0 and never looked back, ensuring a 6-3 victory over Allie Gretkowski and Emma Shelton. Tech’s fifth place in tandem doubles from Kenya Jones and Victoria Flores won the doubles spot on court one. In the 3-2 serve with No. 29 Mia Horvit and Megan Davies, the Jackets increased their lead to 5-3 and Jones pulled out the 6-3 win. Court action between Ava Hrastar and Ruth Marsh and Silvia Chinellato and Ana Cruz was tied at 3-3 when the point was won.
MUSIC ACTION – No. 13 Jones increased Tech’s lead to 2-0 with a quick and straight win on court one. Opening with a 4-2 lead over No. 34 Horvit, Jones pocketed the first set, 6-2, and won three consecutive games in the second set after narrowly losing 4-3 to capture the match. South Carolina tied the game in 2-all taking the next two singles matches to finish. The Gamecocks won their first victory on the fifth court, while Chinellato beat Lee of Tech 6-2, 6-4, and tied the game with a 7-5, 7-5 victory on Gretowski’s court four.
The Jackets and Gamecocks exchanged the next two points to take the match to the final court. Competing on court three, the No. 56 Flores returned the lead to Tech, pulling a three-set victory over No. 93 Shelton. The advantage was short-lived, as South Carolina entered the second block, despite Hrastar’s hard work. Davies won the first set over Hrastar, 6-3, but freshman Jacket forced a decisive third set with a 7-5 second win. Hrastar came out with a 3-0 lead in the final set, but Davies recovered to win the set 6-3 and even the match 3-3.
All eyes turned to court six, where Jain faced Cruz in a three-set battle. Gamecock took a set advantage over Jain, rolling to an initial 6-1 set, but Jacket recovered to take the second set, 6-3. Freshman Jacket opened the final set with a 5-1 lead, but Cruz fought several match points to close the set in 5-all. Jain took a break winning the next game and fulfilled the game by a 7-5 victory in the third set, closing the game for Georgia Tech.
“It was a very exciting match,” said coach Rodney Harmon. “South Carolina have a very good team and every time we face them it is always a difficult game. Today was no different, reaching the last match. Mahak [Jain] it came really big for us today with a big win. I was also very proud of Victoria [Flores] and Kenya [Jones] in singles and doubles matches. We will have another difficult game tomorrow and we are looking forward to the opportunity to play. “
NEXT – The Jackets secured a spot in the ITA Kickoff Weekend contest on Sunday at 2pm. Tech will face the winner of No. 6 Duke-No. 22 Michigan for a spot on the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
RESULTS
DOUBLES
1. No. 5 Kenya Jones / Victoria Flores (GT) def. No. 29 Mia Horvit / Megan Davies (USC) 6-3
2. Gia Cohen / Carol Lee (GT) def. Allie Gretkowski / Emma Shelton (USC) 6-3
3. Ava Hrastar / Ruth Marsh (GT) vs. Silvia Chinellato / Ana Cruz (USC)
Finishing order: 2, 1
MUSIC
1. No. 13 Kenya Jones (GT) def. No. 34 Mia Horvit (USC) 6-2, 6-4
2. No. 30 Megan Davies (USC) def. Ava Hrastar (GT) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
3. Nº 56 Victoria Flores (GT) wins. No. 93 Emma Shelton (USC) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
4. Allie Gretowski (USC) def. No. 123 Gia Cohen (GT) 7-5, 7-5
5. Silvia Chinellato (USC) won. Carol Lee (GT) 6-2, 6-4
6. Mahak Jain (GT) def. Ana Cruz (USC) 1-6, 6-3, 7-5
Finishing order: 1, 5, 4, 3, 2, 6
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